The Hershey company doesn’t have a very good social track record. Issues such as child labor, trafficking and forced labor and refusing to cite chocolate sources, as well as treats that clearly don’t meet environmental standards have earned Hershey the one and only F grade on Green America’s chocolate scorecard. Now, due to increasing consumer and child advocacy group pressures, Hershey has taken some itty bitty baby steps to improve their company. This week, Hershey announced that the company will begin purchasing cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance for its “Bliss” line of chocolates by the end of 2012. Hershey has also stated that they’ll be investing $10 million by 2017 to reduce child labor and improve cocoa supply in West Africa. All of this is good news, but it seems like small potatoes (or candy bars as the case may be). In fact, for years and years, many consumers and Fair Trade groups have been urging Hershey to make positive changes but Hershey has ignored everyone. This is the very first time Hershey has even admitted they need to improve. As Green America points out, “Since the “Bliss” line is a relatively small part of Hershey’s chocolate empire, this is a very small step for the Hershey company to take.” We agree. Not only can Hershey do way, way better, but until they do, there’s no reason for your family to support them.

 Loading ...

READ MORE >

email email 0

READ MORE >

email email 0

No time to make your own Valentines? We found some ready to buy options that are eco-friendly and adorable. Etsy designer Cindy Slater prints her Valentine offerings on FSC-certified cardstock. Choose from several different designs complete with clever and slightly corny (in a fun way!) sayings like owls that say “You whoo,” or monkeys that say, “I’m bananas for you!” These eco-friendly Valentines will trump the drugstore boxed cards any day!

+ Valentine Cards $9.50 for 12

+ Letter C Design

email email 0

email email 0

READ MORE >

email email 0

If there’s one movie you should watch before you give birth, it’s The Business of Being Born. The landmark documentary from executive producer Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein explores childbirth and the modern maternity care system, offering a different perspective on all of the interventions that often happen during labor and delivery. Now, they’ve released a brand new 4-part series, More Business of Being Born, which takes a closer look at doulas, midwives, birthing options and VBACs. Plus, you’ll hear celebrity birth stories from Gisele Bundchen, Alanis Morisette, Cindy Crawford, Melissa Joan Hart and more. Read our review of the new series here. In celebration of the DVD’s release, we’re giving away the Mother Lode prize package, which includes the The Business of Being Born, More Business of Being Born, an organic cotton onesie, Your Best Birth signed by Lake and Epstein, and the National Guide to a Healthy Birth. Keep reading to find out how easy it is to enter for your chance to win!

READ MORE >

email email 15

A while back, LittleFruits Feltery blew us away with their amazingly creative, adorable and fun play felt tree. We never thought we’d see something as cute again, and yet… Now LittleFruits Feltery has added some tropical delight to their shop – the bright and colorful Banana Felt Tree. This cuter than cute tree will have your child playing treasure island in no time flat. A creative Velcro design allows kids to pick bananas right off the tree and then put them back on. Branches are bendable and the tree is made by hand with 100% eco-fi felt. Sorry folks, that mischievous little monkey doesn’t come with the tree, but we do love the idea! We can’t wait to see what LittleFruits Feltery comes up with next.

+ Banana Felt Tree

+ LittleFruits Feltery

email email 0

READ MORE >

email email 0

Motherload posed an interesting question recently, “Should we regulate sugar to protect public health?” The question itself stems from a recent issue of the journal Nature, where public health experts report that plain old sugar is as toxic and just as dangerous for society as substances like alcohol and tobacco. The researchers, working out of University of California at San Francisco, aren’t wrong. Past research has compared junk food addiction to heroin addiction and some research shows that only regulating some sugar won’t work – you need whole community regulation to make a difference. And whole community regulation is exactly what these researchers think should happen. The Wall Street Journal reports that the study authors suggest taxing sugar, limiting sugar in schools, reducing sugary advertising, zoning ordinances for sugar and even placing age limits on the types of sugar-laden products kids can buy. But, is regulation the answer? Can’t parents limit their own child’s sugar intake? It is a very good question. So good in fact, that I asked our readers via the Inhabitots Facebook page, the very same question to see what they’d say.

 Loading ...

READ MORE >

email email 0

If you’ve got a little one who is overly enchanted with fairies, then how perfect is this sweet hat idea! Little ones will adore these charming flower blossom hats, and you have to admit, they’d look super adorable on a baby. Great for birthday parties, a photo opp (just add wings or some fairy-minded clothing) or use them for costume play. Each soft hat is wool felted in the USA. Available in fairy-perfect colors of yellow, orange, pink or periwinkle with a medium green stem. Comes in sizes for infants up to three years and for children ages three to ten years.

+ Wee Blossoms Felted Flower Hats $36.00

+ Palumba

email email 0

If your tot is in the crawling and cruising stage, push toys are perfect for playtime. Manny & Simon recently added this four-car train to their already amazing array of sustainably made wooden rolling toys. Their collection of push toys is made from 100% post-industrial recycled wood residuals and painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC paint. This colorful toy is sure to keep your tot moving and groovin. Choo choo!

+ Train Push Toy $48

+ Manny & Simon

email email 0

New research shows that exposure to PCBs may result in some immune consequences for babies. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of manufactured organic chemicals and researchers recently found that babies exposed to higher PCB levels during gestation and as newborns were born with a smaller immune organ – the thymus. At 6 months of age these babies still had a smaller organ. By 13 months, differences in immune organ sizes were no longer seen. The thymus is responsible for proper T-cells development and problems with the thymus can result in immune system dysfunction. For a baby, who already has a less efficient immune system, this is a problem. PCB exposure has also been linked to cancer, poor neurological development in children and reproduction problems. Now, what’s unique about this study is that PCBs are banned in the U.S. They’re no longer manufactured or even widely used, so how are mamas and babies being exposed?

READ MORE >

email email 0

It’s been a roller coaster week for Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood. On Tuesday, Komen cut off the funding they had been giving Planned Parenthood, which last year amounted to $700,000 – funding that was supporting breast cancer exams and breast education. Komen noted that the move was a policy issue, while Planned Parenthood and other women advocacy groups blamed the move on pressure Komen received via anti-abortion advocates. Almost immediately a Twitter war erupted and everyone, it seems, had something to say about the decision, although it mainly resulted in a massive flood of support for Planned Parenthood. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg posted a statement against Komen’s decision and pledged $250,000 to Planned Parenthood. Oil tycoon Lee Fikes also donated $250,000, while Indie rock band, The Decemberists, pulled all funding from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, instead saying that they’re now pledging all future funds to Planned Parenthood’s Breast Health Emergency Fund. Today another turn of the tides though as Komen issues a public apology to Planned Parenthood.

 Loading ...

email email 0

READ MORE >

email email 0

email email 0